Chapter 5: Sharp Tongue
Wen Yan, who had been summoned by Old Madam Gui, entered just as she lifted the bamboo curtain.
After paying her respects, Wen Yan took one look at Wen Hui’s face and immediately knew that things had unfolded exactly as she had expected.
Even in her previous life, the Shunping Earl’s residence had not favored Wen Hui—there was no reason for that to change in this life. This incident had occurred because Wen Yan had returned to Lin’an, and when she declined the invitation, it led to the current outcome.
After seating Wen Yan, Old Madam Gui turned to Wen Hui.
“Tell your grandmother what happened at the Earl’s residence.”
Seeing Wen Hui frown, it was clear she had grown impatient again.
Madam Zhao hurriedly interjected,
“Jing-jie’er, you tell us.”
Wen Jing, calmer than Wen Hui, thought for a moment before recounting everything in order.
When the two of them entered the residence, the old servant who came to receive them grew displeased upon seeing only their familiar faces and not Wen Yan. She kept going on about how much Second Miss Ji had missed Wen Yan, who had once been a study companion to the Princess, and how disappointed she was that Wen Yan had not come.
Speaking in a roundabout way, the servant led them on, and then Second Miss Ji left the sisters waiting in the flower hall.
Only after about half an hour did she finally arrive, leisurely and unhurried.
Suppressing her temper, Wen Hui suggested that if Second Miss Ji was unwell, they could meet another time.
Instead, Lady Shaobai, aware that the reception had been lacking, came personally to offer polite words. However, Ji Jiu soon arrived and began speaking in a manner that was difficult to endure.
Concerned about appearances, Lady Shaobai quickly tried to smooth things over with a few words to Ji Jiu.
Yet after hearing of this, Lady Bai sent her servant to defend her grandson—and in doing so, even insulted Old Madam Gui.
“After you return, ask your Old Madam whether her hearing has worsened lately. I clearly stated things before—yet she still clings foolishly to old notions?”
“Being the Princess’s former study companion is all in the past. If the Old Madam wants to raise her price, she should wait for the right time—she shouldn’t inflate it so absurdly.”
“They say even mountains and rivers change in ten years. In a few years, even your plaque will be gone, and you won’t have night pearls to boast of. A phoenix that has suffered misfortune is no better than a chicken.”
These harsh words—too offensive for Wen Jing to utter—were all spoken by Wen Hui.
Even Old Madam Gui, who always valued dignity, was provoked by these remarks to the point that she nearly lost control.
To be called foolish, greedy, and as good as finished—this was outright humiliation.
“Like master, like servant.”
Old Madam Gui took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing her anger.
“That old woman is no good person! Hui-jie’er, now you understand that your grandmother did not deceive you. I truly did my best. That family has no sense of propriety! Enough—there’s no need to concern yourself with such despicable people!”
Wen Hui nodded vigorously.
Any feelings she had once held for Ji Jiu were completely extinguished by today’s events.
In the past, she had maintained courtesy out of respect for the renowned Grand Tutor He. But after the He family fell, the Wen family lost its value in their eyes, and the Shunping Earl’s residence revealed its true colors.
How could Wen Hui continue to foolishly pursue them?
Thinking of the humiliation she suffered today, and the blow to Old Madam Gui’s dignity from before, she felt both indignant and sorrowful.
In her distress, she even forgot the previous instructions from Old Madam Gui and Madam Zhao to maintain close ties with the Ji family.
Seeing Wen Yan’s calm expression, Wen Hui asked in confusion,
“A-Yan, aren’t you angry?”
Wen Yan pursed her lips.
“I am!”
She had long known that the Countess of Shunping was cold, unreasonable, and sharp-tongued—but to hear such unrestrained insults still stirred anger.
She knew she could not prevent the decline of the Wen family, nor that the Earl’s household would necessarily fall despite having such descendants. But anger was unavoidable.
It was simply that, after years in the palace in her previous life, she had grown accustomed to not showing it on her face.
Old Madam Gui pulled Wen Yan with one hand and Wen Hui with the other.
“As long as the plaque of the Ding’an Marquis Residence still hangs, this old woman believes I can marry you into a good family!”
Fearing that Old Madam Gui might become too agitated, Madam Zhao comforted her and then withdrew with Wen Hui and Wen Jing.
At that moment, Old Madam Gui stopped Wen Yan, who had been about to leave with them.
Madam Zhao, casting a quick glance at Wen Yan before exiting the Hall of Longevity, felt full of suspicion.
Why had the Old Madam suddenly acted this way?
She knew Old Madam Gui was furious—but she also knew the Old Madam was someone who understood her own limits.
The Wen family was already in decline, and the Shunping Earl’s residence was the highest branch they could hope to reach. Otherwise, why would Old Madam Gui have endured Lady Bai’s disdain for an entire year?
Previously, the eldest young lady of the third branch had been married into a very ordinary family. The Old Madam herself had said she had no way of securing a better match.
Even if she had spoken harshly today in anger, it didn’t seem like empty words.
Could it be she had some hidden support?
Or some method unknown to her?
Meanwhile, after dismissing everyone else, Old Madam Gui spoke to Wen Yan.
“Yan-jie’er, don’t listen to useless talk. Grandmother will definitely marry you off with great dignity!”
With her eyes lowered, Wen Yan appeared shy, but inwardly she let out a sigh of relief.
This move had been correct.
Old Madam Gui valued face immensely. Having been rejected twice by the Shunping Earl’s residence, she would never again try to marry Wen Yan to Ji Jiu.
Moreover, to return Lady Bai’s insults today, the match she chose would have to be of the highest caliber.
In a city as vast as Lin’an, there were few families superior to the Earl’s—and none that the Wen family could easily reach.
Under the current circumstances, was there any better and more promising choice than Guo Yixiao?
That a granddaughter she had never particularly favored had now become the key to restoring her dignity greatly pleased Old Madam Gui.
In a gentle tone, she said,
“Lin’an and the capital are far apart. During festivals, send letters to the Imperial Noble Consort Guo and the Princess.”
For Wen Yan’s current situation, sending letters into the palace was no easy matter.
But she did not voice this.
Whether the letters were sent or received, the Old Madam would not know—so Wen Yan simply nodded.
Old Madam Gui’s intention was not truly to guide Wen Yan, but to reassure herself. Whether Wen Yan’s relationship with Guo Yixiao was as she claimed remained uncertain, but since the Imperial Noble Consort remembered her, the marriage would likely be settled in two years.
After waiting a moment, Old Madam Gui narrowed her eyes when Wen Yan offered no further explanation.
She was not entirely convinced that Wen Yan understood.
Though the girl appeared gentle and obedient, she was clearly clever.
Otherwise, how could she have persuaded Wen Hui with just a few words?
With a slightly reproachful tone, Old Madam Gui said clearly,
“Tell me in detail—what kind of person is he?”
“Who?”
Feigning ignorance, Wen Yan seemed to realize something just before the name was spoken.
“Oh—you mean the Princess.”
Old Madam Gui was left momentarily speechless, caught between irritation and helplessness.
“As you know, Princess Cheng’an and I are the same age,” Wen Yan began.
“The Emperor regards her as a blessing, as she was born the year he was named Crown Prince, and he dotes on her greatly. She has a cheerful personality and treated me very well during the five years we spent together.”
Old Madam Gui listened with a strained smile.
“I see… tell me more.”
Unable to feign ignorance any longer, Wen Yan began to say what Old Madam Gui wanted to hear.
The Emperor’s birth mother, Lady Han, had been an unremarkable concubine of the late Emperor Fengping. Thus, from birth, the Emperor was raised by Imperial Noble Consort Guo.
He was closer to Guo than to his own birth mother.
In the 38th and 41st years of Emperor Fengping’s reign, Empress Shen’s two sons died of illness, leaving only a daughter. Unable to bear more children, she had no choice but to choose among the princes competing for the throne.
She chose the current Emperor.
The two supported one another—she helped him ascend the throne, and he ensured the prosperity of the Shen family.
“When I entered the palace, the Empress Dowager was already gravely ill. The Emperor visited her on the first and fifteenth of every month. Once, the Princess told me that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had a serious argument. I also overheard palace maids saying that the Emperor does not favor the Empress or Consort De, as both were chosen by the Empress Dowager before he became Crown Prince. However, he is very close to Imperial Noble Consort Guo—no matter how busy he is, he visits her every three days…”
Wen Yan spoke steadily, giving Old Madam Gui time to think.
Though she knew the palace’s past in detail, she could not reveal too much, as the “current” Wen Yan should not know such things. So she subtly guided Old Madam Gui’s thoughts elsewhere.
And indeed, it worked.
Beyond what was commonly known, Old Madam Gui’s suspicions about the relationships between the Emperor, the Shen family, and the Guo family were confirmed.
The Emperor had three “mothers,” each holding a different position in his heart.
After ascending the throne, he posthumously honored Lady Han, expressing his regret and longing through her title.
Empress Shen became Empress Dowager Shen. The Emperor both feared and guarded against her—she had helped him rise but also restrained him. Though she had passed away, the Shen family could not easily be uprooted.
Imperial Noble Consort Guo, however, was the one he respected most. The Guo family enjoyed his trust, and raising Guo Yixiao within their household demonstrated that confidence.
Though not his birth mother, he treated her as one. From Old Madam Gui’s experience, while Guo would not make demands lightly, once she spoke, the Emperor would not refuse.
This reassured Wen Yan as well. With the Emperor’s respect for Guo and favor toward Guo Yixiao, the marriage would succeed if Guo supported it.
As if recalling something, Wen Yan added,
“I don’t know who Guo Yixiao’s birth mother is, but she was sent to the Guo family during her pregnancy because of Empress Dowager Shen. Only after the Empress Dowager passed away was Guo Yixiao brought into the palace as a study companion to the princes. Both he and Imperial Noble Consort Guo dislike the Shen family.”
Old Madam Gui’s eyes shifted.
If she remembered correctly, based on Guo Yixiao’s age, his mother became pregnant not long before the Emperor’s first wife died of illness. Afterward, under Empress Dowager Shen’s arrangement, he remarried the current Empress Liu.
There must have been conflict—and a “deal”—behind this, with the child being registered under the Guo family.
Old Madam Gui straightened her posture.
“The Empress Dowager’s surviving daughter is the Grand Princess Yongshou, correct?”
“Yes.”
For a fleeting moment, Old Madam Gui’s usually composed expression became complicated.
Suppressing her emotions, she said,
“You must be tired. You may go now.”
